Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Liberia

Executive Mansion Presents the Facts amid Pro-Tem Jallah’s Claim of Violation of Accra Comprehensive Accord

Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the attention of the Executive has been drawn to comments attributed to Senate Pro-Tempore, Armah Jallah questioning the restructuring of the Armed Forces of Liberia – while suggesting that the government erred and / or violated both the laws of Liberia and the Accra Comprehensive Peace Accord thereby calling on government to provide compensation to both former members of the Armed Forces of Liberia and their “widows” in the amount of 2 million United States Dollars and more.

According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf observed that: “we need to remind ourselves, that in these particularly critical times when our country is going through a development focused period, approaching the transition of UNMIL, and looking forward to the holding of free, fair and transparent democratic elections in 2017, it is incomprehensible and intolerable that key actors in this administration would seek to vent out venom in the midst of the progress we have all made together”.

She said: “I totally reject, challenge and disagree with Pro-tempore Jallah’s assertion. If the Pro-tempore honestly believes that the Government of Liberia still has issues to settle with regards to the restructuring of the Armed Forces of Liberia, it was only but proper and expedient to initiate an intra-governmental discussion on the matter rather initiating a politically inclined statement at the detriment of the peace and security of the country. We certainly cannot proceed along this path”!

President Sirleaf then went on to catalogue the facts to unmask claims of violations purportedly linked to the Accra Peace Accord regarding the restructuring of the Armed Forces of Liberia. She explained that the Accra Comprehensive Peace Accord called for the restructuring of the AFL with a new command structure. This according to her led the government and the international community proceeded with the process, during which all members of the AFL then were qualified and encouraged to re-apply along with all other Liberians who had interest in becoming members of the restructured AFL. The Liberia leader said several members of the former AFL embraced the process and reapplied, among them, very senior officers including the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFL, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Dennis -as the rest of them opted for severance benefits.

President Sirleaf reminded Pro-Temp Armah Jallah the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) culminated into a threefold phase-out transition periods in our national history; thus leading to the setting up of an Transitional Government, the process of disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration and the conduct of free, fair and democratic elections. All of these processes including the restructuring of the Armed Forces of Liberia were effectively, carried out she noted.

Worth noting, President Sirleaf intimated that during the restructuring exercise, the Government of Liberia under her leadership paid the amount $USD 14, 344,000.00 to some 13, 770 former personnel of the AFL as Severance benefits; LD $ 96,000,000 paid to an additional 10,800 Enlisted personnel as salary arrears from previous governments; additional 48,000,000.00 paid to 2,970 Officers also as salary arrears, totaling LD $144,000,000; An additional $ LD 170,822,463.37 was paid to regular personnel of the AFL as Pension benefits; and $LD 2, 400,000 paid to 400 undocumented personnel. In total, $ LD 317,222,463.37 plus US $14,344,000 was paid to former members of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

Regarding benefits for AFL Widows, Madam Sirleaf said LD$71,160,000,000.00 in three installments were paid as benefits to 3,573 persons, even though the initial number of 900 beneficiaries swelled as the government begun the payment process. She said an additional 100,000 USD was spent by the government on the widows for capacity building.

Speaking further, President Sirleaf put the Grand total spent on both former personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia and their widows at LD$388,382,463.37 and US$ 14,444,000.00 or US $ 20,708,233.00.

The Liberia Chief Executive furthered that the restructuring of the AFL was done consistent with the Laws of the Republic of Liberia and the Accra Comprehensive Peace Accord.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf therefore called on all well-meaning Liberians that while her administration fully appreciates the over-excitement in anticipation of the 2017 political season, coupled with the competing vested interest of some of some officials – the government however, strongly cautions public officials, especially senior government officials to disengage from acts, statements or comments that are inimical to the sustenance of peace, unity, security and national development.

Meanwhile, President Sirleaf has said she has no hand in the determination of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to name Mr. Charles Sirleaf, Acting Executive Governor of the CBL and furthered that during the appropriate vetting to formally appoint a new Executive Governor of the Bank – Mr. Sirleaf will not be a candidate.